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“In the meantime, we have been together twice in Prague and both times we have experienced ups and downs in the Golden City: the first time hot summer days and nice people compensated us for a catastrophic wheelchair breakdown, on our second visit we comforted ourselves over a small accident with the delicious Bohemian cuisine and the discovery of the Vltava island.
Here we tell you which spots we like best and what you should have experienced in Prague.
Overtourism in Prague
Honestly finding really secret spots in Prague has become more and more difficult. The city is beautiful, but word has got around about it, and even during our last trip at the beginning of November the city was packed. A difficult starting position to get to know the country and its people according to our self-requirement, but whoever moves away from the usual guide spots on paths that are less frequented may discover one or the other. We are going to show you highlights from the travel guide as well as our own little discoveries.
Wenceslas Square
No, I’m sure Wenceslas Square isn’t a secret tip. But it’s definitely worth seeing, and there’s hardly a tour through Prague without it anyway. The next spots are all in the immediate vicinity of Wenceslas Square.
Luzerna-Passage
The golden Luzerna Passage on the side of Wenceslas Square is definitely a must. Just to admire the curious statue of a Wenceslas horse under a dome of the passage. Probably nobody will believe that you were in Prague if you return without photos of this parody by David Cerny adressing the cult of Wenceslas riding a dead horse .
Franciscan garden
A small oasis lies hidden behind high walls directly next to the passage across the road: the Franciscan garden of the adjacent monastery is quiet and tranquil and lets the hustle and bustle of the city pause for a moment. Wheelchair access is via a passage from Wenzelsplatz.
Old Town Ring
Here, too, the Old Town Ring can hardly be bypassed. And you shouldn’t, because it is definitely worth seeing, also the hourly carillon on the hour is a real experience. All around, numerous stalls try to relieve tourists by a few euros – whereby the Prague ham is in fact a delicious snack between meals. Since the fall of the Wall, a new phenomenon has emerged there: deliciously fragrant stalls lurking at every corner where you can buy Trdelník – sweet, loose tree stalks that are said to be traditionally Czech, but which no one knew before the fall of the Wall. The trace of its origin is lost somewhere between Slovakia and Romania, but in any case far outside the iron curtain. Anyway, they’re delicious! Don’t miss to stroll along the small alleys to the side of the Old Town Ring – here you will find one or two sights.
Charles Bridge
One can barely miss it: through the narrow Karlsgasse one is usually pushed by tourist streams inexorably downwards in the direction of Moldau. At the end, a view of the Charles Bridge opens up, which is usually packed to the brim. A photo of the bridge without people is absolutely impossible. But the good thing about Charles Bridge is that it leads to the other side of the Vltava to Lesser Town, where the turbulence slowly calms down.
Libraries
Prague has two world-famous libraries. We haven’t found wheelchair access yet – but we stumbled upon another gem: the Klementinum!
Klementinum
Due to our lack of Czech language skills, we passed by the gatekeeper in the Clementinum without further ado. An impressive archway welcomes us, and from the side we can enter one of the Shrines: the reading room! What a spectacular view – really breathtaking!
Lesser town
It’s a little quieter here. Close to the Vltava River there are numerous small restaurants with hearty Bohemian cuisine, and a little off the beaten track we find the John Lennon Wall, which shows a little graffiti art and is worth a visit for Beatles fans.
Tram 22
We could have mentioned it right at the beginning, but there has to be some tension: Tram 22 is a perfect means of transport for sightseeing in Prague – it departs from almost every place worth seeing. The best thing about it, however, is that you can save yourself the immensely steep walk up to the monastery and the castle (and you should definitely do this with a wheelchair!).
Monastery and brewery
The monastery high above the city is definitely worth a visit. Especially when the weather is nice, the view over the roofs of the golden city can be admired from the café, and the monastery itself is absolutely worth seeing. As a wheelchair user, under no circumstances you should follow the signposted footpath to the castle, as this way is extremely adventurous and sweaty. Only suitable for adventurous people who wanted to improve their body shape… better back to the tram and downhill again!
Castle
Especially during sunset we really loved the castle. The view of the city and the Vltava River is spectacular, and the impressive castle grounds, which are surprisingly well accessible for wheelchairs, should not be missed. Beside the Golden Lane is situated with its small houses, but for wheelchair users it is pretty challenging. Franz Kafka once lived here – if after an extended day through Prague someone is still interested…
Dancing House
A truly fascinating architectural monument is the dancing house of architect and designer Frank O. Gehry on the banks of the Vltava River near the Jirasek Bridge, which Adina admires since her studies. And indeed, despite its radical design, the house nestles perfectly into its surroundings!
Kampa Island on the Vltava
Only one bridge further on is the Legii Bridge, in the middle of which an elevator leads down to the Vltava Island. Here, too, one finds peace and strength to refuel – a small park with joggers and children, and the noise of the city echoes amazingly quietly.
Miscellaneous: Hotel and gastronomy
We stayed at the Ambiance Hotel, which has a clean and tidy wheelchair room. We are pretty confused why this hotel with its spartan equipment got four-stars rated, but everything was clean and well-kept. The breakfast buffet was not a sensation, but for the price it was all right.
Close to the hotel you will find the LEGENDIA bar with delicious Bohemian cuisine and cocktails at fair prices.
If you love Art Nouveau coffee houses, don’t miss to visit Café Kavárna Obecní dům at the Republic Square. Its beautiful interior is nourished by the ambience: the delicious cakes are presented and served in a serving trolley on the table!
Got hungry? Just look out for the Svatého Václava restaurant at Wenceslas Square, which attracts attention with its knight’s armour at the entrance. Her you will find hearty Bohemian cuisine partly served in the kettle or on a spit!
This post is also available in: German